In times past, on a slope of Himavat, near a certain huge banyan tree, lived three friends: a partridge, a monkey, an elephant. They were without respect or deference for each other, having no common life. And to them occurred the following thought: “It is not proper for us to live thus. Suppose we were to live hereafter offering respectful greetings and the other marks of courtesy to that one of us who is the oldest!” “But which one of us is the oldest?” they considered. “This is the way!” said the three animals one day as they sat at the foot of the banyan tree. So the partridge and the monkey asked the elephant: “Master elephant, since how long have you known this banyan tree?” He said: “Friends, when I was a young elephant, I used to go with this banyan sapling between my thighs. Moreover, when I stood with the tree between my thighs, the tips of its branches used to rub against my belly. Thus I have known this tree from the time it was a sapling.” Next the other two animals, in the same way as before, asked the monkey. He said: “Friends, when I was a young monkey, I used to sit on the earth, extend my neck, and eat the tips of the shoots of this banyan tree. Thus I have known it since it was very small.” Finally the other two animals, in the same way as before, asked the partridge. He said: “Friends, in former times, in such-and-such a place, grew a huge banyan tree. I ate its fruits and dropped its seed in this place. From that sprang this tree. Thus I know this tree from the time when it had not yet sprouted. Therefore I am older than you.” Thus spoke the partridge. Thereupon the monkey and the elephant said to the wise partridge: “Master, you are older than we. Henceforth to you will we offer respect, reverence, veneration, salutation, and honor; to you will we offer respectful greeting, rising on meeting, homage with joined hands, and proper courtesy; in your admonitions will we abide steadfast. From this time forth, therefore, be good enough to give us admonition and needed instruction.” From that time forth the partridge gave them admonition, established them in the Precepts, and himself also took upon himself the Precepts. And those three animals, established in the Precepts, showed respect and deference for each other, and had a common life. When their life was come to an end, they attained the goal of a heavenly world. The taking upon themselves by these three animals of the Precepts was called the Holy Life of the Partridge. “For, monks, those animals lived in respect and deference for each other. Why is it that you, who have retired from the world under a Doctrine and Discipline so well taught, do not live in respect and deference for each other?” When the Teacher had thus related this parable, he assumed the prerogative of One Supremely Enlightened and uttered the following stanza: Men versed in the Law who honor the aged Have praise even in this life And in the next life are in bliss.